Abstract:

An electrospinning equipment is provided. The electrospinning equipment
includes a power supply, a collector and a material supply electrically
connected to the power supply facing the collector and having a spinneret
and a guide unit coupled to the spinneret and bent toward the collector,
and the spinneret is configured at a central portion of the guide unit.

Claims:

1. An electrospinning equipment comprising:a power supply;a collector;
anda material supply electrically connected to the power supply facing
the collector and having a spinneret and a guide unit coupled to the
spinneret and bent toward the collector, and the spinneret is configured
at a central portion of the guide unit.

2. An electrospinning equipment according to claim 1, wherein the power
supply further comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, and
the first electrode is electrically connected to the guide unit and the
second electrode is mounted under the collector.

3. An electrospinning equipment according to claim 2, wherein the second
electrode is configured in a distance away from the collector.

4. An electrospinning equipment according to claim 2, wherein the guide
unit further comprises an inner surface, and distances between each spot
on the inner surface and the second electrode are equal.

5. An electrospinning equipment according to claim 1, wherein the guide
unit is formed by extending outward from the spinneret toward the
collector.

6. An electrospinning equipment according to claim 1, wherein the guide
unit further comprises an indentation surface facing the collector, and
the indentation surface has an opening at a most distant location thereof
from the collector, and the spinneret is located at the opening.

7. An extension structure for an electrospinning equipment, comprising an
opening portion, a spinneret receiving portion and a body, wherein a
width of the opening portion is larger than that of the spinneret
receiving portion.

8. An extension structure according to claim 7, wherein the body is in a
shape of a body portion of one selected from a group consisting of a
bowl, a disc and a dome.

9. An extension structure according to claim 8, wherein the opening
portion is in a shape of a fringe of the one selected from a group
consisting of the bowl, the disc and the dome.

10. An extension structure according to claim 8, wherein the spinneret
receiving portion is a center of the one selected from a group consisting
of the bowl, the disc and the dome.

11. An extension structure according to claim 7 further comprising an
inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface borders the
outer surface on the opening portion, and the spinneret receiving portion
of the extension structure is positioned at a location most distant from
the opening portion.

12. An extension structure according to claim 7 being a tube, wherein the
opening portion and the spinneret receiving portion are openings of the
tube, and the tube is diverged from one of the openings to the other one.

13. An electrospinning method, comprising steps of:(1) providing a
material supply;(2) providing a collector under the material supply;
and(3) generating an electric field between the material supply and the
collector, wherein a pattern of the electric field is convergent from the
material supply to the collector.

14. An electrospinning method according to claim 13, wherein the electric
field is generated by providing an extension structure extending outward
from the material supply toward the collector.

15. An electrospinning method according to claim 14, wherein the extension
structure has a body, and the body is in a shape of a body portion of one
selected from a group consisting of a bowl, a disc and a dome.

16. An electrospinning method according to claim 13, wherein the electric
field is generated by a power supply having a first electrode coupled to
the material supply and a second electrode, where the collector is
located between the second electrode and the material supply.

17. An electrospinning method according to claim 13 further comprising a
step of (4) moving the collector to make a thread deposited at different
locations of the collector.

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The present invention relates to an electrospinning technique, and
more particularly to an electrospinning equipment and an electrode
structure thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]The principle of the electrospinning technique is to provide a
high-voltage electric field in an area which threads pass through after
jetted from a spinning device, and when jetted from a spinneret of the
spinning device, the threads are electrically charged by the spinning
process; therefore, because of the electric property of the threads, the
effect of the electric field on the threads results in finer threads. For
the present techniques, the diameter of the threads can be as small as
one hundred nanometers.

[0003]Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows a schematic diagram of an
electrospinning equipment in the prior art. An electrospinnig equipment 1
includes a collector 14 and a power supply PS electrically connected to a
material supply 10, wherein the material supply 10 faces the collector
14; namely the normal to the plane of the collector 14 is parallel to the
direction in which the material supply 10 supplies a material, and a
diffusion electric field ef1 is generated therebetween. Besides, the
material supply 10 usually is a capillary and has a spinneret 12 which a
polymer solution FS is jetted from to form a thread F1. Ideally the
thread F1 extends straightly toward the collector 14, but actually the
thread F1 fluctuates transversely resulting from the electric charge
repulsion inside the thread F1, and hence the thread F1 is usually
deposited on the collector 14 disorderly. Therefore, the electrospinning
technique is mostly applied to nonwoven manufacturing for its disordered
arranging feature. On the contrary, it is difficult to roll the thread F1
on a roller used in other techniques, and rearranging the thread F1 and
rolling it on the roller is unrealistic since it is time-consuming.

[0004]Please refer to FIG. 2, which shows a schematic diagram of another
electrospinning equipment in the prior art. The electrospinning equipment
comprises a first power supply PS1 electrically connected to a material
supply 10 usually being a capillary and having a spinneret 12, a second
power supply PS2 electrically connected to a circle 2, and a third power
supply PS3 electrically connected to a collector 14. Compared with the
electrospinning equipment 1 shown in FIG. 1, the one shown in FIG. 2 is
to configure the circle 2 between the spinneret 12 and the collector 14
for forming stable threads without transverse fluctuation by providing an
electric potential for the circle 2 through the second power supply PS2,
wherein the electric potential of the circle 2 is higher than that of the
collector 14 but lower than that of the material supply 10. Therefore, an
upper electric field ef2a is generated between the circle 2 and the
spinneret 12, and a lower electric field ef2b is generated between the
circle 2 and the collector 14. A former thread F2a jetted from the
spinneret 12 and passing through the upper electric field ef2a is in a
straight state without transverse fluctuation. However, after passing
through the circle 2 and reaching the area between the circle 2 and the
collector 14, the former thread F2a becomes a latter thread F2b, and a
diffusion is formed again. Nevertheless, the range of the transverse
fluctuation of the latter thread F2b is smaller than that of the thread
F1 shown in FIG. 1. Nevertheless, the range is not small enough to
rearrange the thread F2a as a long straight state in a simple way.

[0005]Accordingly, in the field of electrospinning technique, a new
structure is necessary for the thread to be deposited on the collector
stably without transverse fluctuation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006]In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an
electrospinning equipment including a power supply, a collector and a
material supply is provided, wherein the material supply facing the
collector is electrically connected to the power supply and has a
spinneret and a guide unit coupled to the spinneret and bent toward the
collector, and the spinneret is configured at a central portion of the
guide unit.

[0007]Preferably, the power supply further includes a first electrode and
a second electrode, wherein the first electrode is electrically connected
to the guide unit, and the second electrode is mounted under the
collector.

[0008]Preferably, the second electrode is configured in a distance away
from the collector.

[0009]Preferably, the guide unit further includes an inner surface, and
distances between each spot on the inner surface and the second electrode
are equal.

[0010]Preferably, the guide unit is formed by extending outward from the
spinneret toward the collector.

[0011]Preferably, the guide unit further includes an indentation surface
facing the collector, and the indentation surface has an opening at a
most distant location thereof from the collector, and the spinneret is
located at the opening.

[0012]In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an
extension structure for an electrospinning equipment is provided. The
extension structure includes an opening portion, a spinneret receiving
portion and a body, wherein a width of the opening portion is larger than
that of the spinneret receiving portion.

[0013]Preferably, the body is in a shape of a body portion of one selected
from a group consisting of a bowl, a disc and a dome.

[0014]Preferably, the opening portion is in a shape of a fringe of the one
selected from a group consisting of the bowl, the disc and the dome.

[0015]Preferably, the spinneret receiving portion is a center of the one
selected from a group consisting of the bowl, the disc and the dome.

[0016]Preferably, the extension structure further includes an inner
surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface borders the outer
surface on the opening portion, and the spinneret receiving portion of
the extension structure is positioned at a location most distant from the
opening portion.

[0017]Preferably, the extension structure is a tube, wherein the opening
portion and the spinneret receiving portion are openings of the tube, and
the tube is diverged from one of the openings to the other one.

[0018]In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, an
electrospinning method is provided. The electrospinning method includes
steps of (1) providing a material supply, (2) providing a collector under
the material supply, and (3) generating an electric field between the
material supply and the collector, wherein a pattern of the electric
field is convergent from the material supply to the collector.

[0019]Preferably, the electric field is generated by providing an
extension structure extending outward from the material supply toward the
collector.

[0020]Preferably, the extension structure has a body, and the body is in a
shape of a body portion of one selected from a group consisting of a
bowl, a disc and a dome.

[0021]Preferably, the electric field is generated by a power supply having
a first electrode coupled to the material supply and a second electrode,
where the collector is located between the second electrode and the
material supply.

[0022]Preferably, the electrospinning method further includes a step of
(4) moving the collector to make a thread deposited at different
locations of the collector.

[0023]Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth
in the following descriptions with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an electrospinning equipment
in the prior art;

[0025]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another electrospinning
equipment in the prior art;

[0026]FIG. 3 shows the electrospinning equipment according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 4 is a 3D schematic view of the extension structure of the
electrospinning equipment according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention;

[0028]FIG. 5 is a 3D schematic view of the extension structure of the
electrospinning equipment according to another preferred embodiment of
the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the extension structure of the
electrospinning equipment according to a further preferred embodiment of
the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 7 is a 3D schematic view of the extension structure of the
electrospinning equipment according to further another preferred
embodiment of the present invention; and

[0031]FIG. 8 shows the application of the electrospinning equipment in the
present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0032]The present invention will now be described more specifically with
reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the
following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are
presented herein for the purposes of illustration and description only;
it is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form
disclosed.

[0033]Please refer to FIG. 3, which shows a schematic diagram of the
electrospinning equipment according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention. The electrospinning equipment includes a material
supply 10 facing a collector 31, wherein the material supply 10 is
usually made as a capillary and has a spinneret 12, and the collector 31
is used for collecting a thread F formed by a polymer solution FS jetted
from the spinneret 12. Additionally, the material supply 10 is connected
to a power supply PS; usually a first electrode 30a is connected to the
material supply 10, and a second electrode 30b is mounted under the
collector 31. While one of the first electrode 30a and the second
electrode 30b is the anode, the other one is the cathode.

[0034]Moreover, in order to overcome the drawback of the unstable electric
field in the prior art, a guide unit 3, which is a 3D sheet-form
structure, is coupled to the material supply 10 in the present invention.
Please refer to FIG. 3 which shows a cross-sectional view of the guide
unit 3, wherein the guide unit 3 is formed by extending outward from the
material supply 10 and bending toward the collector 31. As a result, the
guide unit 3 is a downcast curve as shown in FIG. 3 and is an extension
structure having an indentation surface facing the collector 31. In
addition, the indentation surface has an opening at a most distant
location of the guide unit 3 from the collector, and the spinneret 12 is
located at the opening. The second electrode 30b is a point-like
electrode, and an electric field ef3 is generated and a pattern of the
electric field ef3 converges from the indentation surface of the guide
unit 3 to the second electrode 30b, so that the electric field ef3 is
controlled in quite a stable state. Thus, when the polymer solution FS in
the material supply 10 is jetted from the spinneret 12 and affected by
the downward convergent electric field ef3 pattern, the lower the
higher-density the electric field ef3 becomes, and hence the thread F
does not fluctuate transversely. Therefore, the thread F reaches the
collector 31 almost in a straight state, and it is much easier to arrange
the thread F deposited on the collector 31. Although the transverse
fluctuation of the thread F still occurs slightly, it can be controlled
in a range by using the guide unit 3 of the present invention and is
unlike the thread that is irregular and substantial swinging in the prior
art.

[0035]Furthermore, unlike the second electrode connected to the collector
directly in the prior art, the second electrode 30b is configured in a
distance g nearby but away from the collector 31. Thus, the collector 31
can shift above the second electrode 30b, and the thread F can be
deposited on the collector 31 in different layouts through the
arrangement of the shifting direction thereof.

[0036]In addition, the shape of the guide unit 3 can be defined as a
partial surface of a sphere, wherein the second electrode 30b is the
center of the sphere, and the distance between the second electrode 30b
and the spinneret 12 is the radius of the sphere. That is to say,
distances between each spot on the inner surface of the guide unit 3 and
the second electrode 30b are equal, which achieves a more stable electric
field.

[0037]Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a 3D schematic view of the
extension structure of the electrospinning equipment according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is also a new
invention of an electrode structure of the electrospinning equipment. As
shown in FIG. 4, the guide unit 3 includes an opening portion 32, a
spinneret receiving portion 34 and a body, wherein the body of the guide
unit 3 is in a shape of a body portion of one selected from a group
consisting of a bowl, a disc and a dome. If the distance between the
opening portion 32 and the spinneret receiving portion 34 is shorter,
such as a distance shorter than the radius of the opening portion 32, the
guide unit is like a disc. If the distance therebetween is about equal to
the radius of the opening portion 32, the guide unit is like a bowl. If
the distance therebetween is longer than the radius of the opening
portion 32 a certain extent, the guide unit is like a cup. The radius of
the opening portion 32 is longer than that of the spinneret receiving
portion 34, and the spinneret 12 is configured at the spinneret receiving
portion 34 as shown in FIG. 3. Besides, the body of the guide unit 3
between the spinneret receiving portion 34 and the opening portion 32 is
in a shape of a curve surface and is extending outward.

[0038]Please refer to FIG. 4 again, which shows the guide unit 3 of the
present invention in another aspect. The guide unit 3 includes an inner
surface 33a and an outer surface 33b, wherein the inner surface 33a
borders the outer surface 33b on the opening portion 32, and the
spinneret receiving portion 34 is positioned at a location most distant
from the opening portion 32. Moreover, a space surrounded by the inner
surface 33a is an electric field space 33. In a further aspect of the
guide unit 3 of the present invention, the guide unit 3 is a tube,
wherein the opening portion 32 and the spinneret receiving portion 34 are
openings of the tube, and the tube is diverged from the spinneret
receiving portion 34 to the opening portion 32.

[0039]Please refer to FIG. 5, which shows a 3D schematic view of the
extension structure of the electrospinning equipment according to another
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The extension structure 4
includes an opening portion 42, a spinneret receiving portion 44 and a
body, wherein the opening portion 42 and the spinneret receiving portion
44 are respectively located at the two ends of the extension structure 4,
and the body therebetween is a wave-shape structure which increases the
strength of the extension structure 4 and keeps it away from deformed
easily due to crashes and squeezes. The same with the guide unit 3 shown
in FIG. 4, the extension structure 4 includes an inner surface 43a and an
outer surface 43b, wherein the inner surface 43a borders the outer
surface 43b on the opening portion 42, and a width of the opening portion
42 is larger than that of the spinneret receiving portion 44. In
addition, a space surrounded by the inner surface 43a is an electric
field space 43.

[0040]Please refer to FIG. 6, which is a cross-sectional view of the
extension structure of the electrospinning equipment according to a
further preferred embodiment of the present invention. The
cross-sectional view of the extension structure 5 is a square appearance,
and the shape of the body thereof is a cylinder or a box. The extension
structure 5 also includes an opening portion 52, a spinneret receiving
portion 54 and a body, wherein a width of the opening portion 52 is
obviously larger than that of the spinneret receiving portion 54, and an
electric field space 53 is formed inside the extension structure 5. The
extension structure 5 is coupled to the material supply 10, and the
spinneret 12 is configured in the extension structure 5; the electric
field space 53 is formed between the spinneret 12 and the collector 31.

[0041]Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a 3D schematic view of the
extension structure of the electrospinning equipment according to further
another preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the
extension structure 6 is in a shape of a multilateral pyramid. In this
preferred embodiment, the extension structure 6 is in a shape of a
quadrilateral pyramid, wherein a spinneret receiving portion 64 is
configured on the top of the pyramid, and an opening portion 62 also
having a width larger than that of the spinneret receiving portion 64 is
located at the base of the pyramid.

[0042]Therefore, the extension structure of the present invention is
generally a structure coupled to the material supply 10, and is formed by
extending outward from the spinneret 12 toward the collector 31. That is
to say, no matter what shape the extension structure is, such as the
various ones disclosed in FIGS. 3-7, the basic shape of the extension
structure is that the width of the end connected to the material supply
(which is the spinneret receiving portion) is smaller than that of the
end away from the material supply (which is the opening portion), which
means the circumference, the diameter, the edge length or the
cross-section area measure of the opening portion is larger than that of
the spinneret receiving portion. In other words, in the present
invention, the spinneret receiving portion is connected to the opening
portion by a body structure, and the body structure can be made by shell
manufacturing for the convenience of the manufacturing process or for the
necessity of light-weight.

[0043]The aim of the present invention is to let the thread reach the
collector stably without transverse fluctuation. The method to achieve
the aim is to stabilize the electric field between the material supply
and the collector, and further to restrict the thread jetted from the
material supply, so that the thread can reach the collector nearly
without transverse fluctuation. In accordance with a further aspect of
the present invention, an electrospinning method is provided. Referring
to FIG. 3, the electrospinning method includes steps of (1) providing a
material supply 10, (2) providing a collector 31 under the material
supply 10, and (3) generating an electric field ef3 between the material
supply 10 and the collector 31, wherein a pattern of the electric field
ef3 is convergent from the material supply 10 to the collector 31.

[0044]More briefly, the method of the present invention is to generate an
electric field between the material supply and the collector, and the
electric field pattern is convergent from the material supply to the
collector. As shown in FIG. 3, the material supply 10 is located above
the collector 31, wherein the pattern of the electric field ef3 is like a
shape of an inverted cone.

[0045]As to the method to generate the electric field ef3, it is achieved
by forming an extension structure 3 by extending outward from the
material supply 10 toward the collector 31. The body of the extension
structure 3 is in a shape of a body portion of one selected from a group
consisting of a bowl, a disc and a dome.

[0046]Please refer to FIG. 3 again. The electric field ef3 is generated by
a power supply PS having a first electrode 30a coupled to the material
supply 10 and a second electrode 30b, where the collector 31 is located
between the second electrode 30b and the material supply 10. In other
words, as shown in FIG. 3, the second electrode 30b is mounted under the
collector 31. In addition, the second electrode 30b is configured in a
distance g away from the collector 31, so that the collector 31 is
movable for changing the location which the thread F is deposited at
after jetted from the material supply 10.

[0047]Please refer to FIG. 8, which shows the application of the
electrospinning equipment in the present invention. The material supply
10 is located above the collector 31, and the thread F is jetted from the
spinneret 12 toward the collector 31 and deposited on the collector 31
through a stable and straight route using the extension structure 3 of
the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, due to the movable collector
31, a flex diagram of the thread F can be weaved thereon. At the moment
shown in FIG. 8, the collector 31 is moving toward a direction D to
deposit the thread F toward the opposite direction of the direction D.

[0048]In conclusion, in order to prevent the fluctuation of the thread
during the electrospinning process, the present invention provides a
special electric field between the material supply and the collector,
wherein the electric field pattern is convergent from the material supply
to the collector, so that the thread reaches the collector stably without
fluctuation after jetted from the material supply. The convergent
electric field pattern is generated by providing the extension structure
of the present invention extending outward from the material supply
toward the collector, wherein one of the extension structure is like an
inverted bowl. Therefore, the equipment and method disclosed herein
provide more possibility for electrospinning technique.

[0049]While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently
considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to
be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed
embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various
modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and
scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar
structures.